Tablet case with a tablet holder



May 3, 1960 Filed May 14, 1958 P. VON MARTENS TABLET CASE WITH A TABLET HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 3, 1960 P. VON MARTENS 2,935,180

TABLET CASE WITH A TABLET HOLDER Filed May 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ra p-L 1- United States Patent Q F TABLET CASE WITH A TABLET HOLDER Peter von Martens, Norra Haga, Helsingfors, Finland, assignor to Lorenzo Runeberg, Helsingfors, Finland Application May 14, 1958, Serial No. 735,307

Claims priority, application Finland May 14, 1957 6 Claims. ((11. 206-42) A common defect in all known tablet cases is that the tablets are not held in a fixed position within the tablet cases but might be shaken around in the case as soon as some tablets are taken out and the case not any longer is completely full. This easily causes that the tablets are damaged.

The present invention relates to a tablet case which eliminates said drawback. It is arranged in such a way that the tablets will always be fixed as to their position and always be maintained in a certain predetermined position relative each other and the case. The tablet case according to the invention is mainly characterized thereby that it consists of two channel like parts, which are assembled with their edges abutting each other so as to form an elongated hollow body such as a tube body of cylindrical shape, said channel like parts being arranged movable relative each other in the longitudinal direction. The case has an inner separate tablet holder, arranged movable inside the case in its longitudinal direction and governed by steering members arranged to project into longitudinal grooves in the inner wall of the case. The steering grooves have at their bottom notches or waves arranged to cooperate with the mentioned steering members of the tablet holder in such a way that when the tablet case parts are moved relative each other in an oscillating way the tablet holder by cooperation between the steering means of the tablet holder and said notches in the steering grooves is pushed stepwise forward in one direction of the case simultaneously being prevented from gliding back in the opposite direction.

a The tablet case according to the invention is provided with on outlet opening in one end of the case for removing of the tablets. The tablets are placed within the case parallelly to one another in a transversal position relative the longitudinal, geometrical axis of the case, the outlet opening being preferably arranged in such a way, that the tablets may be removed in a direction parallel to their position within the case. The object of the movable tablet holder is that it according to the removing of the tablets shall become advanced in the direction against the outlet opening, thereby always abutting the tablets and keeping them fixed in right mutual position, irrespectively of whether the case is completely filled by tablets or not. Hereby the tablets are prevented from being shaken or moved within the case when this is only partly filled.

The invention is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatical drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating the tablet case in a partly opened position,

Fig. 2 is a transversal section of the tube according to Fig. 1 along the line 11-11 and shown in a larger scale,

Fig. 3 shows likewise in a larger scale a longitudinal section of a detail of the tablet case in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation illustrating another embodiment of the tablet case.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the detail shown in Fig. 6.

Patented May 3, 1960 Fig. 6 is a section on a larger scale of a detail of the case in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 illustrates a side elevation of the tablet holder used in the case according to Fig. 4.

Parts corresponding one another in the diiferent figures are designated by same references.

The tablet case consists of two channel like parts 1 and 2 which are assembled with their edges interengaging with each other as to form a container, here shown as having a cylindrical shape. The parts of the case might be produced of materials such as plastics. The parts 1 and 2 are movable relative each other in the lengthwise direction of the case. Within the case is a tablet holder 3 having an elastic steering member 7, Fig. 3, arranged-to project into a governing groove 6 running longitudinally in the inner wall of the case, and another projecting member 9, arranged to project into a second longitudinal groove 8 in the innerwall of the case. Both grooves 6 and 8 are according to Figs. 1 to 3 provided with an uneven bottom, the bottom of the groove 6 being formed as a waveline with wave forming projections 60 having depressions therebetween and the bottom of the groove 8 being notched and having notch forming projections 8a with notches therebetween.

Fig. 1 illustrates the tablet case in a partly opened position only partly filled with tablets. The first tablet is designated 5 and the innermost 11. The first tablet 5 is abutting the endwall 4 of the case and the innermost tablet 11 is supported by the tablet holder 3. When a tablet is taken out from a case an opening is occurred in the tablet row. Now the tablet holder according to the invention has to fulfil its function, it must be moved against the endwall 4 of the case with a distance corresponding to the thickness of the removed tablet. This function of the tablet holder is carried into efiect in the following way:

When the case parts 1 to 2 are moved relative each other from a closed position toward an open position corresponding to Fig. 1 in order to make it possible to remove a tablet this movement may be characterized for instance as moving the upper case part 2 to the right relative the under case part 1. The tablet holder 3 is prevented from following the upper part 2 to the right by the notches in the bottom of the groove 8, since the brake member 9 abuts the notch forming projections 8a hindering any movement of the holder 3 in the right direction.

The upper elastic steering member 7 abutting the waveline bottom of the upper groove 6 is, however, enough resilient for permitting a relative movement between said steering member 7 and the bottom formation of the groove 6. At pushing the upper case part 2 to the right a relative movement between it and the holder 3 consequently occurs. When the upper case part 2 after the removal of tablets from the case is again advanced to the left for closing the case the steering member 7 abutting the waveline bottom of the groove 6 will give a sufficient strong coupling for taking the tablet holder 3 with it and advancing it against the end wall 4. The brake member 9 of the tablet holder 3 is namely not prevented by the notches in the bottom of groove 8 to permit a movement to the left of the holder 3 which thus now follows the upper case part 2. The notches are only preventing movements in right direction, Figs. 1 and 3, but represents no obstacle for a movement to the left. By moving the tube parts 1 and 2. in an oscillating way relative each other the result will be step-wise advancing of the tablet holder 3 from the right to the left until the tablet holder abuts the innermost tablet 11 thereby keeping the tablet row firmly in the intended position preventing the tablets from getting shaken around and damaged in the case. The distance between two notches to give an efiective joint permitting as well a longitudinal:

movement between the case parts as giving an effective coupling enduring radial stressesin the-caser= 'Iheinner' wall of the, case is absolutely even. The *bottom projections 6a andSa in the grooves 6 andq8 :do consequentlynot project up to the circumferential profile of the-inner wall 10 and 10' of the case parts 2 and 1 respectively.

elastic steering member '7 and the: braking 'member'9 adapted to project into the grooves 6 and 8 respectively.

The dotted curve line 3' in Fig. 3 isintended-to illustrate that-the surface of the holder 3, adapted to abut the innermost tablet can be formed into convex shape there by. consequently supporting the tablets substantially only by its:top point.

may; be favourably to formthe front face of, the holder witha concave recess. Many'varieties are thus'possible.

The outer form of the case may'of course also'be varied corresponding to the pills or tablets adapted to be carried in'the case. Such variations are, however,--without any influence on the invention idea and the object of'the in' vention. 7

In-the Figs. 4 to 7 is another embodiment-of theinvention shown illustrating some smaller variations in the case details.

The endwall 4 of the under part 1 of the case is thinner than in Fig. 1. Further the projections 6b in the bottom of the groove 6 inthe upper case part 2 are pointed and have pointed depressions therebetween, the longitudinal profile line of which is a zigzag line. Such a zigzag line or formation is easier to manufacture.

The tablet holder 3, has a piston like form comprising a plane round bottom plate and wall parts,the outer surface of whichcoincides with the cylindrical outer'wall of the piston element. The upper and'under wall parts 7, 9 have projections 77 and 99 respectively adaptedto cooper-ate with the bottom projections and depressions'in the grooves 6 and 8. The side wall members 3a and 3b of the tablet holder are only adapted as cooperating governing members, abutting the inner wall of the case and contributing to the steering of the tabletholder. The function of the case parts 1, 2 and of the tablet holder is exactly equal with the function of the corresponding elements shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

It goes without saying that the tablet holder might have a closing end wall also at its right end In some cases such an end well maybe desirable. .It demands of course special arrangements forthe machinery filling of the tube with tablets or pills and the application of the tablet holder. It might also be favourable to perform the end wall 4 as a detachable separate element whereby the content of the case is filled-in at-its left cndwhen the end wall is removed.

What I claim is: p

l. A tablet case comprising two channel-like parts having slidably interengaging edges, said parts together forming an elongated hollow body and said parts being slidable relative to each other in the direction-of elongation, one of said channel-like partshaving a longitudinally extending wavy formation thereon and the other of said channel-like parts having a longitudinally extending notched formation thereon, and a tablet holder in said The tablet holder according: to Fig.13 is" formed as a round plate .3 having Itheaforementioned In some cases this mightbe favourable.- If the tablet case, however, is adapted for round pillsit hollow body, said tablet holder having a resilient steering member thereon engaging ,with said wavy formation on the said one of said channel-like parts and having a resilient projecting member thereon engaging with the notched formation on the said other of said channel-like parts, whereby when one of said channel-like parts is moved relative to the other'in a direction to slide one part off the other, said tablet holder is blocked from movement by the engagement of said-projectingmember in one of the notches'of said notched formation and when' the said one of said channel-likeparts.is-moved-- -relative to the other in the opposite direction, said. tablet holder is advanced along said hollow body.-

2. A tablet case comprising two channel-like parts having slidably interengaging edges, said parts together forming an elongatedhollow-body and' saidparts being slidable relative to each other in the direction of elongation, one of said channel-like parts having a first groove in the inside surface thereof with a-rwa'vyiformation:.therein, and the other ofsaid channel-like.parts-havingia second groove in the inside. surface thereof with a notched;: f0r-' mation in the bottom thereof, and a tablet-holder .in said hollow body, said tablet holder having a resilient-steer.- ing member thereon engaging with said --wavy formation: on the said one of said channel-like parts "and'having' a resilient projecting member thereonrengaging v,withthe notched formation-on the said other of said. channel-likeparts, whereby when one of said-channel-like partswis moved relative to the other in .a directionto. slideone part off the other, said tablet holder is blocked'rfrom movement by the engagement of said projectingmember in one of the notches of said notched formatiomand, when the said one of said channel-like partsiswmovcd relative to the other in the opposite direction,-.said. tablet holder is advanced along said hollow'body.

3. A tablet case as claimed in claim-2 in which said wavy formation and said notched formation lie entirely; within the respective grooves therefor.

4. A tablet case as claimed in claim 2 and an end wall on the end of said channel-like parts toward which .said tablet holder is moved.

5. A tabletcase as claimed in claim '2 in which the surface of said tablet holder facing said end wall is curved;

6. A tablet case comprising two parts together'form an elongated hollow'body, both of said parts beingielongated V and being slidable relative to each other inthe direction of elongation, one of said parts havinga longitudinally extending wavy formation thereon and 'theotherof said parts having a longitudinally extending; notched formation thereon, and a tablet holder in said hollowbody, said tablet holder having a resilient steering member thereon engaging the said wavy formation, and having a resilient projectingmember thereon, engagingthe notches of ,said notched formation, whereby-when one of: saidparts-is moved relative to the other said tablet holder is blocked from movement by the engagement of said projecting member in one of the notches of'said notched'formation and when said parts are movedrelative-to each other .in the opposite direction saidtabletholder is moved:rela-. tively to said parts.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS... 

